Name: Apple Fritter Bread Recipe
Prep time: 1 h 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup milk; ¼ cup salted butter; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast; ½ cup brown sugar; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ cup apple cider or water; 1 large egg lightly beaten; 3-4 apples peeled & diced; 1 cup brown sugar; 2 Tablespoons salted butter; 1 Tablespoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 2 Tablespoons cornstarch; ¾ cup powdered sugar; 1 Tablespoon salted butter melted; 3 teaspoons apple cider or milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla

Imagine the sweet aroma of cinnamon-spiced apples and buttery dough wafting through your kitchen—this is exactly why the Apple Fritter Bread Recipe is such a treat to make. It blends tender bread with that irresistible apple fritter charm, perfect for any cozy morning or a comforting snack.

A golden brown apple bread loaf with a rough, uneven top layer showing caramelized, browned apple pieces and bread crust. The loaf is thick and tall, sitting on a silver wire cooling rack with a white marbled surface underneath. Around the loaf, there are three green apples and a white colander with holes in the background, along with a white and black checkered cloth. The lighting is soft, highlighting the textures of the bread and apples. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Apple Fritter Bread Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Apple Fritter Bread Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Apple Fritter Bread Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I can’t tell you how many times friends and family have asked for this apple fritter bread after trying it. It’s got that perfect balance of soft, fluffy bread and sweet, sticky cinnamon apple filling—a nostalgic taste that hits all the right notes.

Perfect Comfort Food: It's like biting into your favorite apple fritter donut, but in bread form that’s easy to slice and share.
Impressive Yet Simple: The dough is straightforward and forgiving, so even if you’re new to bread baking, you’ll nail this.
Loads of Apple Goodness: The filling is packed with tender apples, cinnamon, and a rich glaze that keeps every bite bursting with flavor.
Flexible for Your Taste: You can tweak the filling or glaze easily to add your own spin, making it perfect for gift-giving or a special breakfast.

The image shows a thick slice of golden brown bread with a soft and fluffy inside. The bread has visible chunks of light tan apple pieces spread throughout its two main layers, which show a dense yet airy texture. The top layer has a darker caramelized crust with a slightly rough and uneven surface. The bread sits on a metal cooling rack placed on a white marbled surface. In the background, there is a white colander and two green apples, adding fresh colors to the scene. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

What’s wonderful about this Apple Fritter Bread Recipe is how the ingredients come together to create this magic. The dough stays soft with a hint of sweetness, while the apple filling brings in that classic, cozy flavor. Here’s a quick rundown on why each part is essential.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of warm milk, a quarter stick of salted butter, a mound of all-purpose flour on a white ceramic plate, a small white ceramic bowl of active dry yeast granules, a small white ceramic bowl filled with brown sugar, a pinch of salt in a tiny white ceramic bowl, a small white ceramic bowl of apple cider, one large whole brown egg with a clean shell, diced fresh peeled apples on a white ceramic plate, a small white ceramic bowl of melted salted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of lemon juice, a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla extract, ground cinnamon in a small white ceramic bowl, a small white ceramic bowl of cornstarch, and powdered sugar in a small white ceramic bowl, all ingredients fresh and natural, arranged in perfect symmetry and balanced proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Milk: Warm milk helps activate the yeast and gives the bread a tender crumb.
Salted Butter: Adds richness and depth to both the dough and the filling; using salted instead of unsalted simplifies things since you get seasoning and fat in one.
All-purpose Flour: The backbone of the bread; perfect for soft, yet structured loaf.
Active Dry Yeast: The magic agent that makes the dough rise and become fluffy.
Brown Sugar (in dough and filling): Adds a warm, caramel-like sweetness that works beautifully with apples.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
Apple Cider or Water: Apple cider adds a subtle fruity depth, but water works if you need to keep it simple.
Egg: Enriches the dough, making it tender and giving it a beautiful color.
Apples (peeled & diced): The star of the filling; choose tart apples like Granny Smith for balance.
Lemon Juice: Keeps apples bright and adds a fresh tartness to cut through sweetness.
Vanilla: Adds a lovely warm aroma that complements the cinnamon and apples.
Cinnamon: The signature spice you want in every bite.
Cornstarch: Thickens the apple syrup so it clings to the filling perfectly.
Powdered Sugar (for glaze): Creates that sweet finishing touch your bread needs.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how versatile this Apple Fritter Bread Recipe truly is. Once you get the basic version down, you can start experimenting with how much filling you add or switch up spices to tune it exactly to your liking.

Variation: I’ve tried swapping half the cinnamon for nutmeg or adding a pinch of ground cloves for a fall-inspired twist—both delicious and easy to do.
Dietary Tweaks: If you want it dairy-free, swap the butter and milk with non-dairy alternatives like coconut milk and plant butter, it still works great!
Extra Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the filling before rolling if you’re as nuts about nuts as I am.
Fruit Swap: I’ve even swapped the apples for pear or a mix of berries to surprise guests at brunch.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Apple Fritter Bread Recipe

Step 1: Prep the Dough with Warm Milk and Butter

Start by gently warming your milk until it’s hot and bubbles just begin to appear around the edges—but don’t let it boil. Stir in the butter until melted, then let this warm mixture cool a bit so it doesn’t kill the yeast in the next step. Trust me, this little patience pays off with a perfectly soft dough every time.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients, Add Wet, and Knead

Combine your flour, yeast, brown sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add the beaten egg, apple cider or water, and the warm milk-butter mix. Stir everything together until it forms a rough dough, then knead for about five minutes until smooth and elastic. If you have a stand mixer, use the dough hook—it makes this so much easier.

Step 3: Let the Dough Rise

Transfer your dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size (about an hour). This slow rise builds flavor and gives you that wonderfully soft texture.

Step 4: Cook the Apple Filling

While the dough is rising, toss the diced apples with brown sugar, butter, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, and cornstarch in a skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the apples are soft and the syrup thickens slightly. Then remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. This filling is pure magic—and it fills your kitchen with such a cozy scent!

Step 5: Roll, Fill, and Slice the Dough

Divide the dough into two portions. On a floured surface, roll out one portion into a large rectangle. Spread half the apple filling evenly over it, juices included. Roll it tightly like a cinnamon roll. Then, using a sharp knife or bench scraper, cut the roll diagonally every inch or so, then rotate and cut again to create small chunks. It’s a little messy, but I found this method gives you delicious pockets of apple in every bite.

Step 6: Assemble, Rise, and Bake

Scoop those chunks carefully into a parchment-lined bread pan, including syrupy bits. Repeat with the second dough portion. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let the loaves rise for 30 minutes. Then bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked. I like to take them out immediately and let cool on wire racks to avoid sogginess.

Step 7: Glaze and Serve

While the loaves are warm, whisk powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and apple cider or milk until smooth. Drizzle generously over the bread and let it set before slicing. This glaze adds that irresistible sweet finish—don’t skip it!

Top Tip

From my experience making this recipe multiple times, these tips really helped me get the best results—and I want you to have the same success without extra stress.

Don’t Overwork the Dough: Knead just until smooth to keep the bread tender, not tough.
Use Warm, Not Hot Milk: Too hot can kill the yeast and prevent the dough from rising properly.
Roll Tight but Not Too Tight: This helps the loaf hold shape while ensuring filling distributes evenly.
Cool Filling Before Using: Adding hot filling can affect the dough’s rise—let it cool to room temperature for best results.

How to Serve Apple Fritter Bread Recipe

apple fritter bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I typically keep it simple with a drizzle of the glaze; but sometimes I sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on top for a pretty crunch. For an extra indulgent treat, a smear of cream cheese or a pat of soft butter on a warm slice is heavenly.

Side Dishes

Pair it with a warm cup of coffee or chai tea for breakfast. It also goes well alongside a fresh yogurt parfait or a simple green salad if serving it as part of brunch.

Creative Ways to Present

For special holidays or brunches, I like to slice the bread into thick chunks, arrange them in a braided loaf pan, and finish with extra glaze and a sprinkle of chopped nuts. It’s a real showstopper and always a crowd-pleaser.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature. From my experience, it stays fresh and tasty for 2-3 days — but honestly, it usually disappears faster!

Freezing

To freeze, I skip the glaze and wrap the bread tightly in foil, then place it inside a freezer bag. It freezes beautifully for up to 3 months, so you can prepare ahead for the busy season.

Reheating

When you're ready, just thaw at room temp and warm slices in a toaster or the whole loaf in an oven at 300°F for 10-15 minutes. Then, add the glaze fresh—warming really revives that just-baked goodness.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular water instead of apple cider?

Yes, you can substitute water for apple cider in the dough, but apple cider adds a deeper, fruity flavor that complements the apples nicely.

What type of apples work best for this recipe?

Tart apples like Granny Smith or Braeburn hold their shape well and balance the sweetness of the filling perfectly.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can assemble the loaves and let them rise in the fridge overnight. Just bring them to room temperature before baking for a fresh-baked taste with less morning prep.

How do I prevent the bread from being soggy?

Removing the bread from the pan immediately after baking and letting it cool on a wire rack prevents excess moisture build-up, keeping the crust crisp and the texture just right.

Final Thoughts

This Apple Fritter Bread Recipe has truly become a go-to in my kitchen whenever I want something comforting yet special. It’s an experience in every slice—soft bread, warm spices, and apples bubbling with syrupy goodness. Give it a try and I’m sure it’ll become a beloved favorite in your home too. Trust me, you’ll want to make it again and again!